KALAMAZOO, MI – Hundreds of people packed the Kalamazoo Mall and Michigan Avenue on Saturday, some carrying plastic spoons from stop to stop, as they sampled chili at some three dozen restaurants, stores and other locations during the Kalamazoo Chili Cook-off.

“It's fun, I only wish it could go on a little longer,” Mike McKeon of Kalamazoo said as he stood outside the Mall Plaza with his family. It was the second year he made it downtown for the annual event, which ran from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m.

“We want to hit more places with less standing in line this year,” McKeon said.

Lines more than 40 people deep formed outside locations such as The Union Cabaret & Grille and Radisson Plaza Hotel & Suites.

“It’s a fun thing to do as a family,” said 12-year old Devin Pritt who came down from Muskegon to enjoy the day with McKeon and other family members.

Unseasonably warm temperatures in the 40s and a lack of precipitation made for a comfortable day to sample chili, both hot and mild.

“It’s a perfect day for people to get downtown,” Ruth Pushie said. “Last year the weather was great too, but it was more chilly. It’s great this year, no pun intended.”

Lester Coleman who was working at Taco Bob's was warning customers who came in that their chili was hot, and joked that the owner Bob Ketteman was in better shape this year because he had to carry more peppers to mix in the stew.

“I’ve been working at Bob’s for three years. It’s one of the top 10 days I’ve had at work,” Coleman said.

By the Mall Plaza near one of the chili cook-off voting booths there was a mitten tree in the shape of Michigan where people could donate gloves and mittens. Some people stopped to string up mittens for the less fortunate before partaking in chili tasting.

Candace Faistenhammer was helping kids decorate cookies in the Mall Plaza. “It’s more geared to the kids because the adults come for the chili,” Faistenhammer said.

Jennifer Wozniak was enjoying tasting the different chili recipes, but took time to help decorate cookies with her children, 5-year-old Louis, and 7-year-old Anna.

“I only like mom’s chili,” said Anna as she decorated a sugar cookie with candy eyes and a gummy worm smiley face.

“We seem to be the first stop,” Hauck said. “I make the same chili each year and it’s very popular with people.”

Hauck said she was working hard on her chili Friday night, chopping up onions and opening more than 20 cans of beans. “It took about five hours,” she said of the cooking time for her well-traveled family recipe.

Sarah Lindsay, who works at the Rx Optical in Jackson, traveled to the downtown Kalamazoo location to help serve up two types of chili -- a white chicken chili as well as a spicy kicking chili.

“It’s a great downtown event. We won a company contest and love to share the recipe with the community,” Lindsay said.

People could vote for their favorite chili in categories of retail stores and restaurants.

Nature Connection of Kalamazoo won in the retailer category and Mangia Mangia Italian Ristorante won among the restaurants. Nature Connection won the overall People's Choice award.

The MLIve/Kalamazoo Gazette was also serving reporter Fritz Klug's father's World Famous Chili recipe at our downtown location on the Kalamazoo Mall.

Watch a video shot by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette reporter Fritz Klug during the Chili Cook-off at the MLive hub on the Kalamazoo Mall.